Judge bars Ariz. action against Planned Parenthood

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PHOENIX (AP) — A federal judge is blocking Arizona from halting public funding that the state indirectly provides Planned Parenthood for general health care services that don't include abortion.

The preliminary injunction issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Neil Wake bars the state from applying a new state anti-abortion law to Planned Parenthood Arizona and a physician with his own practice.

The law was enacted earlier this year but it hasn't been implemented.

Arizona already bars public funding for most abortions, but the new law would go beyond that by barring public funding for general health care services provided by abortion clinics and doctors.

Grounds cited by Wake in his ruling include that federal law doesn't allow states to exclude Medicaid providers for reasons other than their qualifications to provide services.